Graciano Corporation restored the Charles Street Garage, a cast-in-place underground parking structure in Baltimore, Maryland adjacent to the landmark Fidelity Building. After decades of exposure to chlorides and contaminants had compromised the concrete decking beyond repair, Graciano replaced the entire floor surface level by level while keeping the garage operational. Completed 2008.
The Charles Street Garage is a cast-in-place underground parking structure adjacent to the landmark Fidelity Building in Baltimore, Maryland. After decades of exposure to chlorides and other contaminants, the concrete driving surfaces had deteriorated to the point where spot repairs could no longer address the condition of the structure. The entire floor surface required replacement to restore the garage to safe, serviceable condition.
Owner 222 Holding, LLC retained Graciano Corporation to perform the concrete deck replacement, with Morabito Consultants, Inc. serving as structural engineer and SK&A Smislova, Kehnemui and Associates as consulting structural engineer. The approach was designed to keep the garage operational throughout construction -- work proceeded on half a level at a time, maintaining access for the garage's users while each section was demolished, repaired, and replaced.
Working half a level at a time, Graciano crews demolished and removed the deteriorated concrete decking. Before deck removal could proceed, inside walls were braced to support the structure during the period when the deck no longer provided lateral and vertical support. This sequencing -- brace, remove, repair reinforcement, form and pour -- was repeated level by level through the garage, with the half-level approach ensuring that the structure was never left without adequate support on adjacent sections.
Once decking was removed, the condition of the steel reinforcement was evaluated in each area. Reinforcing bars were cleaned, repaired, or replaced as required based on the extent of corrosion. Forms were installed and new concrete floor surfaces were poured, restoring full structural capacity to each section before it was reopened to traffic and work advanced to the next section.
New guardrails were installed throughout the garage as part of the restoration, replacing the existing hardware and bringing the structure into compliance with current standards. The guardrail installation was coordinated with the concrete work to ensure proper anchor embedment in the new decking.
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. With offices in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano bids nationally on parking structure and concrete restoration projects for commercial and institutional owners. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise performing approximately 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled craftsmen.
Graciano's concrete restoration expertise extends from landmark building facades to parking decks and infrastructure -- with the same commitment to quality and minimal disruption to operations.